Tissue box

ABSTRACT

A tissue box ( 10 ) for dispensing tissues, said tissue box includes a bottom wall ( 18 ) having a second aperture ( 21 ) for allowing tissues ( 22, 22 ′) to be pulled from inside of the box and a side wall ( 14 ) extending between the top wall ( 16 ) and the bottom wall ( 18 ). The side wall defines a void inside the box for containing tissues. The tissue box also includes a dividing wall ( 24 ) within the void. The dividing wall is supported between the top wall and the bottom wall and is for dividing the tissues into a first group ( 22 ) that are able to be removed through the first aperture ( 20 ) and a second group ( 22 ′) that are able to be removed through the second aperture. In use, after the first group of tissues is used, the box may be inverted, so that the second group of tissues may be used.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a National Phase Concerning a Filing Under 35U.S.C. 371, claiming the benefit of priority of PCT/AU01/00041, filedJan. 17, 2001, which claims the benefit of priority of AustralianProvisional Patent Application No. PQ5193, filed Jan. 20, 2000, all ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tissue box for dispensing tissues.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tissue boxes, for dispensing tissues are well known. However, currenttissue boxes suffer from problems, particularly in the case of largersized tissue boxes, when there is only a minority of tissues remainingin the box. There is a tendency for the next tissue (which should beprotruding from the aperture) to drop back into the box. The user mustput a hand through the aperture into the box to remove a tissue torestart the run of tissues. This can be quite difficult especially if atissue is needed in a hurry and often results in a number of tissuescoming out, which is wasteful. If this only happened a few times in thelife of the box it would be acceptable, but as the pile of tissuesremaining in the box, particularly with larger sized boxes, reduces fromabout half to one third remaining, the problem gradually gets worseuntil the last 20% or 10% of tissues result in a failure of continuityfor most of the remaining tissues. Due to the distance between theaperture at the top of the box and the base of the box where the tissuesrest, a large portion of the protruding tissue is not supported by thebase. Consequently, the weight of this unsupported portion often causesthe tissue to fall back into the box.

For economy and other reasons it is desirable to put a large number oftissues in the one box. However, this necessarily increases the size ofbox and exacerbates the above mentioned problem.

There have been some attempts to overcome this problem in the past,these include having the underneath of the box able to be pushedupwardly so as to reduce the height between the tissues and theaperture. However, this solution is generally unreliable, ineffectiveand costly.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present is to provide a tissue box which provides a newmeans of overcoming the above mentioned problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a tissue box fordispensing tissues, said tissue box including:

a top wall having a first aperture for allowing tissues to be pulledfrom inside of the box;

a bottom wall having a second aperture for allowing tissues to be pulledfrom inside of the box;

a side wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, the sidewall defining a void inside the box for containing tissues; and

a dividing means within the void, supported between the top wall and thebottom wall for dividing the tissues into a first group that are able tobe removed through the first aperture and a second group that are ableto be removed through the second aperture,

whereby, in use, after the first group of tissues is used, the box maybe inverted, whereupon the second group of tissues may be used.

Preferably the dividing means is in the form of a dividing wall. Morepreferably the dividing means is arranged to be supported by a supportmeans, such that the weight of the second group of tissues does notsignificantly sag the dividing means too far from the aperture. Morepreferably the dividing means is positioned approximately half to twothirds of the way between the top wall and the bottom wall.

Preferably, the dividing means is connected to the side wall. Morepreferably the dividing means is supported by longitudinally extendingflaps that are folded down in between the folded end flaps of the box.Alternatively, the dividing means is provided by a second tissue boxwith both bottom walls for each tissue box secured to one another. Inanother embodiment the dividing means is provided by the base of a firstbox attached to a side wall of a bottomless second box. In yet anotherembodiment, the dividing means is part of a self supporting insert.

Preferably, the side wall is comprised of opposed end walls and opposedlateral walls, arranged to form a rectangle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order to provide a better understanding, preferred embodiments of thepresent invention will be described in greater detail, by way of exampleonly, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of a first embodiment of a tissuebox according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the tissue box of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of a tissue box of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of a tissue box inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a third embodiment of a tissue box inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an end view of a fourth embodiment of a tissue box inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a fifth embodiment of a tissue box inaccordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is an end view of a sixth embodiment of a tissue box inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a tissue box 10 which includesopposed lateral walls 12, opposed end walls 14, a bottom wall 18 and atop wall 16. The walls are arranged in a standard rectangular prismshape of an ordinary tissue box. The top wall includes an aperture 20through which tissues 22 may be drawn from the inside of the box.

The box is also provided with a dividing floor 24 intermediate thebottom wall 18 and the top wall 16. The floor 24 is approximately onehalf to two thirds of the way between the top wall 16 and the bottomwall 18. In addition, opposite the first aperture 20 is a secondaperture 21 in the bottom wall 18.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the floor 24 is provided with end flaps 28at each end of the box. The flaps 28 overlap with flaps 30 from thebottom wall 18 of the box. A further flap 26, from the top wall,overlaps the flap 28. These are then secured in place with adhesive 29.This arrangement provides two compartments, within which a first groupof tissues 22 is able to be supported on the floor 24, and a secondgroup of tissues 22′ located beneath the floor 24.

When the top wall 16 is above the bottom wall 18, that is, when the boxis right way up, the floor 24 is provided with support due to the floor24 resting on the ends of the flaps 30. Additional support is providedby the second group of tissues 22′ being beneath the floor 24.

When the first group of tissues 22 has been removed, the tissue box mayinverted. The second group of tissues 22′ is then accessed through tosecond aperture 21. The floor 24 may sag a little as it is not supportedfrom underneath. However, since the second group of tissues is less thanthe first group and the distance from the floor 24 to the aperture 21 isalso less, the sagging is not significant.

In FIG. 4 another embodiment of the tissue box 10 comprises two smalltissue boxes 11 and 13 which are coupled together by adhesive 29 at abottom wall 27 of the first box 11 and bottom wall 25 of the second box13. In this case, the floor 24 comprises the walls 25 and 27.

Referring to FIG. 5, in this embodiment a smaller box 11 is at thebottom of the tissue box 10 and the top wall 16 and sides are formed bywall portions 26 which are secured by adhesive 29 to the end walls andside of the smaller box 11. The floor 24 is formed of the bottom wall ofthe smaller box 11.

Referring to FIG. 6, in this embodiment the box 10 is made from a largebox with an insert forming the floor 24. The insert is fixed to thelateral walls, rather than the end walls by a flap 32 of the floor 24.The flap 32 is secured to the lateral walls 12 by adhesive 29.

Referring to FIG. 7, in this embodiment the floor 24 of the box 10 iscontiguous with one of the flaps 30 from the bottom wall 18. The floor24 extends across the length of the box whereupon a flap 28, at one endof the floor 24, then overlaps the other flap 30′ and is secured byadhesive 29. Flaps 26 from the top wall then overlap the first flap 30and the second flap 30′, which are secured with adhesive 29.

Referring to FIG. 8, in this embodiment the floor 24 is part of aninsert 40 in the box which has inner side walls 42 that extend towardsthe bottom wall 18. These support the floor 24 in the box when it is inthe upright position. There is a fold at the bottom of the inner sidewalls which continues with an upper portion 40 that supports the floor24 above the upper wall 16 when in the inverted position.

It is desirable that the second group of tissues 22′ be smaller than thefirst group of tissues 22 so that when the box is inverted, there isless weight on the floor which then is no longer supported underneath bya stack of tissues. Furthermore, it is normal for there to be some formof decoration and/or advertising on the tissue box. It is less desirableto have this upside down for the majority of the duration of use of thebox.

Now that the preferred forms of the present invention have beendescribed, it will be clear that the present invention has at least thefollowing advantages:

Tissues near the bottom of the box will be closer to the second apertureafter inversion of the box and will be readily and continuouslyremovable. In addition, the support means for supporting the artificialfloor may be incorporated into the tissue box with minimal additionalcost in manufacture and loading of the box.

It will be clear to the skilled addressee that modifications andvariations can be made to the present invention without departing fromthe basic inventive concept. There may be other configurations forsupporting the floor and construction of the box. Such modifications andvariations are intended to be within the scope of the present inventionthe nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tissue box for dispensing tissues, said tissuebox including: a top wall having a first aperture for allowing tissuesto be pulled from inside of the box; a bottom wall having a secondaperture for allowing tissues to be pulled from inside of the box; aside wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, the sidewall defining a void inside the box for containing tissues; and adividing means within the void, supported between the top wall and thebottom wall for dividing the tissues into a first group that are able tobe removed through the first aperture and a second group that are ableto be removed through the second aperture, whereby, in use, after thefirst group of tissues is used, the box may be inverted, whereupon thesecond group of tissues may be used.
 2. The tissue box according toclaim 1, wherein the dividing means is in the form of a dividing wall.3. The tissue box according to claim 1, wherein said dividing means isarranged to be supported by support means such that the weight of thesecond group of tissues does not significantly sag said dividing means.4. The tissue box according to claim 1, wherein said dividing means ispositioned approximately one-half to two-thirds of the way between thetop wall and the bottom wall.
 5. The tissue box according to claim 1,wherein said dividing means is connected to the side wall.
 6. The tissuebox according to claim 1, wherein said dividing means is supported bylongitudinally extending flaps that are folded down in between thefolded end flaps of the box.
 7. The tissue box according to claim 1,wherein said dividing means is provided by a second tissue box with bothbottom walls for each tissue box secured to one another.
 8. The tissuebox according to claim 1, wherein said dividing means is provided by thebase of a first box attached to a side wall of a bottomless second box.9. The tissue box according to claim 1, wherein said dividing means ispail of a self-supporting insert.
 10. The tissue box according to claim1, wherein said side wall is comprised of opposed end walls and opposedlateral walls, arranged to form a rectangle.